England 2 Tunisia 1.
Here’s how we rated the England players:
Jordan Pickford – 6
The Everton goalkeeper got the nod to start ahead of Jack Butland and Nick Pope, and on his fourth cap, he almost saved a penalty from Ferjani Sassi. He wasn’t tested after that.
Kyle Walker – 5
Walker started on the right side of a back-three, rather than his natural position at full-back, and started the game well. The Manchester City defender stepped out of the backline early in the first-half and played one pass that split open the Tunisian defence when he found Trippier with a lovely through-ball. However, he was badly at fault for Tunisia’s equaliser, hitting his opponent with an elbow rather than heading the ball away. It was always going to be difficult to redeem himself during the game after that brainfart.
John Stones – 6
He lost his place at Manchester City in the final months of last season, but Stones is essential to Southgate’s side, who aim to build from the back. He was involved in England’s opener, when Kane followed-up his header to score, and didn’t misplace a pass during the first-half. The best of England’s three central defenders on the night, even if he missed a sitter in the first-half.
Harry Maguire – 6
Given the nod ahead of Gary Cahill, the most experienced member of England’s squad, Maguire started on the left of England’s back-three and looked very nervous in the first half. The Leicester defender was loose in possession at times and somewhat sloppy. A better side than Tunisia would have punished his misplaced passes. He was a threat at set-pieces, with England often aiming to find him. He improved after the break and looked more comfortable carrying the ball forward. His header set-up Kane’s winning goal in stoppage time.
Kieran Trippier – 7.5
A dangerous attacking outlet, particularly in the first-half, Trippier was neat in possession and his passing into the final third was often excellent, creating a couple of chances for his teammates.
Ashley Young – 6
The Manchester United winger turned wing-back started ahead of Danny Rose, a specialist in the position, and justified his inclusion with an excellent cross for England’s opening goal. Young lofted the ball to Stones who had a free-header. His effort was saved but followed-up by Kane to score. Young was the more defensive of England’s two wing-backs, but was solid and neat in possession, he also set-up a chance for Lingard with a dangerous cross to the back-post.
Jordan Henderson – 5
He hit one wonderful pass to Alli early in the game, knocking the ball over the Tunisian defence to set the Spurs midfielder through on goal, but, otherwise, Henderson wasn’t very ambitious in possession. He appeared nervous taking the ball in the middle of the pitch and tended not to show for a pass when England’s central defenders were in possession. The Liverpool captain worked hard though and helped screen the back-three, but his lack of intent in possession, and failure to give a teammate an option for a pass, was a glaring weakness within the team.
Jesse Lingard – 5
The Manchester United man was sharp from the first whistle, dropping into pockets of space and linking up with teammates. He had four shots in the first-half alone, hitting the post with one effort. Lingard was a threat in the final third but lacked composure in front of goal. Rarely seen after half-time.
Dele Alli – 5
Like the rest of England’s attacking players, Alli started well and then drifted from the game as Tunisia were allowed back into it. He appeared to be carrying a knock.
Raheem Sterling – 4.5
It wasn’t one of his better games. Sterling started brightly, linking well with Kane, and but lost the ball on a couple of occasions, running down blind alleys as the Tunisians crowded him out. He was on the edge of the game throughout, his first-touch often let him down and struggled to have any real impact on the game. Substituted for Rashford with 22-minutes to play.
Harry Kane – 7.5
The England captain opened the scoring with a poacher’s effort at the back post after 11 minutes. Kane drifted out of the game then – he had the fewest touches of any England outfield player who started the game. He was largely starved of supply as the game went on, but found the winning goal at the death, finding space at the back-post. Kane was barely involved in the game, but won it for his team.
Substitutes:
Marcus Rashford – 5
He looked lively when he came on, but found space hard to come by against a rigid Tunisian defence.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – N/A
He almost created one chance in the final minutes, but wasn’t on the pitch long enough to rate.
Eric Dier – N/A
Not on long enough to rate.
